Farmers lobby for Centrelink rights

The South Australian Farmers Federation says it wants farmers to qualify for unemployment benefits during droughts.

The federation says it is disappointed the Federal Government will cut interest rate subsidies for drought-hit farmers, but is yet to announce a replacement system.

President Peter White hopes one component of a new system would be tax incentives to better prepare for periods of drought.

"If we can get a system that provides incentive to look after ourselves then surely that's a better system," Mr White said.

"What it would entail would be a change to the tax system somewhat so we can build fodder storage, we can build water facilities to actually help us with drought - all those sorts of things and give us some tax incentives to actually better prepare for drought.

"The other part of that is why should farmers be any different to anyone else? Why can't we have access to Centrelink facilities the same as a wage earner?"